Stagecoach

Rating:
Summary: An all-time classic!
Review: There is areason why this motion picture always winds up on film critics' lists of best movies -- it is one of the best movies ever made. Usually referred to as "John Wayne's big break," Stagecoach has everything that makes a Western interesting -- the horses, the conflict, the Indians, the town drunk, the gunfighter with a heart of gold, the easterner who is amazed and frightened at the West, plus the "dance hall girl" who is thrown out of town by the local morality society.

I don't know if Ford knew he was making a classic at the time he filmed this, but that's indeed what it is. The stunts alone are well worth watching the picture...including the granddaddy of all Indian-stagecoach "car chases."

Well worth watching, again and again and again. It is in black and white, but, like Ford's other B&W movies, after five minutes, you'll find yourself amazed at the richness the black and white brings to the scene.

Rating:
Summary: "Stagecoach" the overlooked film CLASSIC of 1939 now on DVD!
Review: 1939 was the greatest year of Hollywood films!!! Gone With The Wind (color), The Wizard of Oz (color), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Wuthering Heights, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and "Stagecoach" to name a few. What makes this even more incredible is all but the "Hunchback" were selected to the American Film Institutes (AFI) top 100 films in the last 100 years (1998).

"Stagecoach (1939)" was the first of 2 AFI top 100 films that John Wayne & John Ford (Director) made together ("The Searchers" (1956-Widescreen color, also available in DVD) was the other).

"STAGECOACH" was the first true complex western to be made on location in the "Monument Valley, Utah. Star studded cast, great story, lots of action and unbelievable stunts by the legendary stunt man - Yakima Canutt. His stunts were so dangerous that when he asked Director Ford if he got the stunt on film. Ford replied,"even if I didn't we won't do that again!" (Ford was famous for his single takes and this Canutt stunt was immortalized forever in this grand film!!!).

So if you want to enjoy this grand western adventure of 9 desperate people crossing 170 miles of Indian territory in 2 days, jump aboard this 1939 Classic that launched John Wayne career.

This DVD in Black & White, Full Screen (before WideScreen), good quality picture for a 1939 print. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A great movie let down
Review: A classic American western and the movie that made John Wayne a star. A 5-star film set in the spectacular Monument Valley. In 1939 I suspect "widescreen" was not much of an option, but the DVD box notes the film has been "formatted to fit your screen." I'm not sure how much of the frame has been lost in the process, but as John Ford framed the scenes it doesn't appear we're losing much content. But still, it's Monument Valley and every square inch of Ford's original concept would be welcome.

Rating:
Summary: Seminal western
Review: A disparate group of people travel through perilous Apache territory together. Their characters are revealed as they face a series of adversities. This influential film showed that the western was capable of presenting more than singing cowboys and sneering villains. These characters are three-dimensional people with believable flaws. The entire cast, including John Wayne in the role that made his career, is exceptional. The action scenes hold up well; the Indian attack, in particular, features some outstanding stuntwork. The influence of "Stagecoach" can be seen in films as varied as "Citizen Kane," the Airport films, and "Mad Max II (The Road Warrior)."

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Summary: Ultimate Stagecoach Movie!
Review: John Wayne's "Stagecoach" is the best! It all starts when a stagecoach picks up a group of travelers destined to ride the stagecoach to Lordsburg, without any trouble with the Indians. The beginning is where they go over rough terrain, and make a few stops along the way, then the real action starts. I can't remember the first time the group saw the Apaches, but I can remember that this one man sees a whole bunch of them going down the highest mountain top. That's just when the Stagecoach starts to cross the river at an outpost along the border that the Indians burnt, and in the process killed everyone. After that, they get attacked by Apaches, but they don't notice until a spear is in that old, squirmy-eyed man's throat. After that, they fight until they have no more bullets left, and even Ringo (John Wayne) doesn't have any ideas or power left. (...)

So overall, this movie is terriffic, and one that you can't miss, definitely better than "How The West Was Won". Don't miss this!

Rating:
Summary: Stagecoach
Review: You can't turn this one down! Ringo (John Wayne) may be under arrest, but his abilites are needed in the end of the movie, and he acts as if nothing has happened to him. One thing about Wayne is to never let him down. Also, the characters seem to be funny, old-fashoined, and drunk. It's too much to say, but this epic saga of a young John Wayne is one that fans can't miss.

Rating:
Summary: The first real western, "Stagecoach" made the Duke a star
Review: John Ford's 1939 classic "Stagecoach" is a landmark film in the history of western movies in so many ways, the most memorable of which is the emergence of John Wayne as a major star. But more importantly the good guys in the white hats versus the bad guys in the black hats is finally replaced by real human beings who have their strengths and weaknesses. "Stagecoach" is about six passengers, the driver, a sheriff and an outlaw who joins them on their journey. Wayne plays the Ringo Kid, who has been framed for a murder and is seeking the real killers; Claire Trevor plays Dallas, a prostitute fleeing her unhappy life; Thomas Mitchell is the courageous but alcoholic Dr. Josiah Boone; John Carradine is the gambler, Hatfield; Berton Churchill is Henry Gatewood, a banker who has embezzled a fortune; Donald Meek is Samuel Peacock, a mousy little salesman; Louise Platt is Lucy Mallory, a pregnant woman traveling to join her husband; Andy Devine is the stagecoach driver, Buck and George Bancroft is the tough but fair minded Sheriff Curly Wilcox.

"Stagecoach" was filmed in what would prove to be Ford's favorite locale, Monument Valley, Utah. During their journey the personality of each character is revealed as Lucy gives birth, the stagecoach is attacked by Indians, and the Ringo Kid gets revenge on his enemies. A nice balance between character study and action, "Stagecoach" sets standards for how westerns should look and how characters should be real people. Wayne does not really stand out in this strong ensemble cast, but we can clearly see all the elements of the persona that would make him a screen legend. Final word of advice: skip the sequel and stick to the original. Whether you are a fan of the Duke or of the genre, this is one western you have to watch at some point in your life.

Rating:
Summary: Satgecoach
Review: Stagecoach The movie Stagecoach was the first of many westerns that John Wayne and John Ford would do together. The movie was received well by the public when released by Warner Bros. in 1939. And Stagecoach was to be the movie that put John Wayne on his way to Western Movie immortality. Stagecoach also proved to be a directorial masterpiece orchestrated by the great John Ford , who would later make such great movies as The Searchers , She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, and The Alamo. As awards go, Stagecoach was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best picture, Best Art Direction, Best Director , Best Score, Best Supporting Actor. But Stagecoach came away with only two Academy Awards. The first was Best Supporting Actor, which was won by Thomas Mitchell for his role as Doc Boone. The second award, was for Best Score, was won by John M. Leopold, Leo Shuken, and Richard Hageman. Other notable awards were the New York Film Circle Award for Best Picture, the National Board of Review of Motion Picture Award for 10 Best Films in 1939, and John Ford won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Direction in 1939. The movie Stagecoach is set in New Mexico during the early 1870's. The movie begins with Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell) and Dallas (Claire Trevor) being driven out of town due to their sketchy background, mainly alcohol and prostitution, by a local women's group. So both are forced to leave town on the next stagecoach which is being driven by Buck Rickabaugh (Andy Devine). Also along for the ride are Henry Gatewood (Berton Churchill), a crooked banker trying to get out of town; Samuel Peacock (Donald Meek) ,who is a whiskey salesman; Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt), who is going to meet up with her husband who is an cavalry officer in Lordsburg; Hatfield (John Carradine), who is a local gambler who goes to pursue Lucy Mallory; and Sheriff Curly Wilcox (George Bancroft), who is going solely due to the fact that that he might have a chance at capturing the Ringo Kid (John Wayne) . As the stagecoach is about to leave, they receive news that Geronimo has left the reservation and is on the warpath with his fellow Apaches. With Cavalry assistance, the stagecoach decides to go ahead as planned. Suddenly a gun shot sounds, and the Ringo Kid is standing in the middle of the trail. He gives himself up without a fight, and is kept on due to the fact that they need some more firepower incase of Apaches. The stagecoach rolls into its first stop and finds out that the Cavalry had already left and that they would have no escort the rest of their journey. After finding out that her husband left and might be seriously injured, Lucy faints and is taken to the bedroom to rest. Only later does Doc realize that she is pregnant and that he must sober up quickly to deliver the baby. After several cups of coffee and splashing himself with cold water, Doc is ready. For hours Doc, with Dallas assisting him, is in the bedroom until Dallas comes out with a baby wrapped in a blanket. After much debate, the group decides to wait an extra day to allow Lucy to rest. With their final destination in sight, the worst possible thing happened, Apaches. A war party of angry Apaches attacks them, but luckily the Cavalry comes to save the day. Once in town, the Ringo Kid Settles an old score with an enemy. The Ringo Kid then marries Dallas and they run off to live on his ranch in Mexico. The Filming of Stagecoach took place mostly in Monument Valley, Utah. This was the first time John Ford used Monument Valley, and he instantly fell in love with it due to its complete isolation from the rest of the world . He would film several movies in there including The Searchers, another Ford Classic. Filming in Utah made the movie backdrop pretty accurate with what New Mexico would have looked like in the 1870's. As for historical accuracy, it seems to be right on. The Movie mentions Geronimo leaving his reservation , which actually did happen around the 1870's. Stagecoach seems to come off as a typical western. It has its outlaws, gamblers, drinkers, and Indians. A factor that might turn people off is that the movie is in black and white. And being a person who is growing up in the age of color TV. and movies, it is hard to watch something with band sound and in black and white. But still the movie was rather entertaining and exciting because of John Wayne and the directing of John Ford. Stagecoach is not that useful for our class other than to show us the dangers of stagecoach travel in the beginning of the west.

Rating:
Summary: A great John Ford film...
Review: I own both the VHS and DVD editions of this film.

While the action, Indians chasing the stage, becomes the focal point of the film and it's story, I especially enjoyed the interplay of characters. The performances are among the best you might see in an "adult" western; many feel the first "adult" western. Claire Trevor and Thomas Mitchell standout; although Andy Devine and George Bancroft are excellent.

I can't help but wonder how crowded it must have been in the stage, seven adults and one new-born traveling to Lordsburg, New Mexico, via Monument Valley in Utah.

Much like "High Noon," you'll enjoy "Statecoach" even if you don't like westerns.

Rating:
Summary: The Duke's first great movie
Review: John Ford was a genius and his brilliance is shown to perfection in this classic western. This was John Wayne's first bona-fide classic and though his acting is sometimes a bit uneven, he still dominates every scene he's in, even when surrounded by superior actors. Watch as Wayne enters the Stagecoach and gives his rifle to Curly; already we see the seeds of the great performer. His screen presence really blossoms in his role as the Ringo kid.

Thomas Mitchell's performance as the alcoholic Doc Boone is one of cinema's most outstanding performances. It's a joy to watch him in every scene, especially when he's imbibing. He mixes comedy and drama as well as anyone who ever acted on the silver screen and he owns this role. Andy Devine is also charming, irreverent and marvelous as one of the stagecoach drivers. It's a pity Devine never landed many plumb roles later on his career because he's a gem. Claire Trevor's interplay with Wayne is sweet and memorable. The Duke knew she was a gal with a "checkered past," but didn't care and loved her anyway. Besides "Key Largo," this is Trevor's best screen work. The scene where she walks through the darkened town with the Ringo kid is wistful and poignant, as she has to finally admit to him that she is a "fallen woman."

Of course John Ford presides over all of this with a masterful hand. The ubiquitous backdrop of Monument Valley is shown to perfection and his genius as a director is in full bloom here. This is a movie you will cherish even if you normally hate Westerns. It's an essential movie to watch and own, a timeless masterpiece.